Billed as a collection that charted the history of the car, Brown’s lots included a 1927 Renault Torpedo (€166,750), a 1928 Detroit Electric Model 95 Type 24B coupe de ville (€48,300) and a 1909 Stanley Model E2 10HP Runabout steam car (€50,600).

Another notable sale was the €287,500 raised for a 1928 Rolls-Royce Playboy Roadster that had belonged to Jerry J Moore. A property developer, he reputedly had an entire French chateau uprooted and moved to Texas where it was meticulously rebuilt.

While not a car, a 1929 De Havilland 60GMW Gipsy Moth, which starred in Out of Africa, was certainly a classic. It went to an African bidder for €201,250, setting a new world record for the plane.

Carrying a guide price of €2.5-3.5million, an ex-works Bugatti Type 54 racer was the most prominent lot not to find a new home.